Residents of Sitio Mariahangin gathered on Thursday to mark Eid al-Adha, even as tensions persist over land rights and allegations of harassment involving private security forces and indigenous community members.
In the small coastal sitio, members of the local Muslim community offered prayers and lit candles to honor deceased relatives — part of their annual observance of one of Islam’s most sacred holidays. The celebration came at a time when residents say they are facing uncertainty and stress amid a protracted land dispute.
For weeks, members of the Sambilog-Balik Bugsuk Movement have raised concerns about the presence of armed private security guards employed by JMV Security Services. The guards who, residents claim, are from Jewelmer, a pearl farming company operating in the area. According to the group, the residents — many of whom belong to indigenous and Muslim communities — have long asserted ancestral claims over portions of the land in Sitio Mariahangin.
Jewelmer, co-founded by Manuel Cojuangco, operates pearl farms in several parts of Palawan. The company has not issued a public statement in response to the recent allegations. As of this writing, efforts to reach representatives of Jewelmer and JMV Security Services for comment were unsuccessful.
In May, local police arrested ten residents following a grave coercion complaint reportedly filed by a former official of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). The details of that complaint have not been made public, but the detentions have prompted appeals from community groups for further investigation.
One of those detained was Oscar “Ka Ondo” Pelayo, a fisherman who was later convicted on illegal fishing charges. In a statement released by the Sambilog-Balik Bugsuk Movement, the group alleged that Pelayo was apprehended by private guards without a warrant and subjected to physical abuse — claims that have not been independently verified.
The Department of Justice, Commission on Human Rights, and NCIP have not issued any official findings regarding these incidents. Requests for comment from these agencies were not immediately returned.
Sitio Mariahangin is one of several communities in southern Palawan where overlapping claims between private entities and long-time residents remain unresolved. While some residents point to their ancestral ties to the land, formal land titles remain a point of contention.
Despite the ongoing disputes, Thursday’s Eid al-Adha celebration proceeded peacefully, with community members gathering to pray and share meals. For many, it was a rare moment of togetherness in the midst of a broader conflict.
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